ABRAMS-JACKSON v. Avossa et al

Filing 98

ORDER AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES TO THE DEFENDANTS AND AGSINST MR. MALIK LEIGH, ESQ., AND DANIELLE RENEE WATSON, ESQ.: granting 97 Defendants' Motion for Attorney Fees. Mr. Leigh and Ms. Watson shall reimburse Defendants for their Attorney's fees in the amount of $932.75 and make payment to the Office of General Counsel for the School Board of Palm Beach County on or before December 15, 2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge William Matthewman on 11/6/2017. (kza)

Download PDF
UN I TED STATES D I STRI COU RT CT SOUTHERN DI STRI OF FLORI CT DA Ci lN o.l 8l vi 6- 6z4- v - a r / a t w m a cl M r a M the n RAQUEL ABRAM S UACKS ON, Pl i if a ntf , FI EZ by L VS. D. C. N 26 2 1 0k 27 ROBERT AVOSSA,e a . t 1, S VEN M LARI TE MORE cuihq. DlTc. E?l L s. T sD. r u -w. a. . o!r i. R D e e nt . f nda s O R DE R A W A RD IN G AT TO R N EY ' FEE S T O TH E DEFEND A N TS S AND AGAI NST M R.M ALI LEI . K GH ESO .AND DANI . ELLE RENEE W ATSON, ESO . TH I CA U SE i be or t Cour upon t D ef nt , Che yl M c e r a Pa m S s f e he t he enda s r K eve nd l Bea h Count SchoolBoad' Cl fnda s' M oton f Ator 'Fe t Deemi t c y r s Dee nt' ) i or t neys es o tr ne he Amo ofFee t BeAwar d Cû oton' g 971 CounslfrPli if M ai Leg Es , unt so de M i ' DE . ) e o antf, lk ih, q. and Da ele Re e W aton,Es , ve f ie t fl a tme y r pons t t M oton.TheCour ni l ne s q.ha al d o ie i l es e o he i t has c r f l r vi w e t M oto a t Cour ' pror Or r ,as w e lt e ie doc ti t s a e uly e e d he i n nd he ts i de s l he ntr ke n hi CaSC. BA CK G R O U N D O n O c o r 1 2017,t under i d e er d a Or Gr ntng i Pa ta D e ng i t be 3, he s gne nt e n der a i n r nd nyi n Pa t fnd ns Mo in f rS n to sa t S rk .g 9 1 n t a Or e, h Co r g a td r Dee a t' to o a cin nd o tie DE 4 .l h t d r t e u t rn e Dee f ndan s r que t f a a a d of a t e s f es a i t bo h of Pl i if Ra l A br m s t ' e s or n w r tom y' e ga ns t a ntf , que a J c on' c a ks s ouns ,M r Lei and M s W a s f t tm e i ur e by D e enda s i ha ng t el . gh . t on, or he i nc r d f nt n vi o r e c a dr f Def nda s m oton f s tons a t s r ke,r vi w a r s a ch Pl i t f es ar h nd a t e nt ' i or anc i nd o ti e e nd e e r a n ifs 1 r pons t r o,a dr h and r s a c Def nda s'r pl 1 a p. 1 The Cour die t d es e he et nd a eerh e nt e y. d. t 0. t rce c e f Deenda st fl,wihi sve ( )da oft dae oft Or ,a me a ounsl or f nt o ie t n e n 7 ys he t he der morndum t ta es e t hour y r t of c ha ddr s d he l ae ouns l t tm e e nde t a ountof r as bl a t ne s e , he i xpe d, he m e ona e tor y' f es a c t t t Def nda s i ure i r ea c ng a dr fi De e e nd oss ha e nt nc r d n es r hi nd a tng f ndant' m o i n f s to or s nc i a t srke r vi ng a r e c ng Pl ntf s r pons , a dr fi a a tons nd o ti , e ewi nd es ar hi ai if es e nd a tng nd r e r hi D ef nda s r pl a w e l as a c t i r d. es a c ng e nt ' e y, s l ny os s ncur e The Cour alo die t d t s rce Plitf t fl ame rn u r s o d n a / ro j ci t t a u to at me sf e a d anif o ie mo a d m e p n i g ndo b e t o he mo n f to y' e s n ng c t s os s oughtby t Def nda s i udi t houry r t of c he e nt , ncl ng he l ae ouns a tm e c a m e t ha el nd i l i d o ve be e nde by t De e nt ' c en xpe d he f nda s ouns l 1 a pp. 1 11 The dea i f t r pons e . d. t 0- . dlne or he es e m e or ndum was s n days a t Def nda s fl d t i m e or ndum . I Fi ly,t Cour m a eve fer e nt ' ie he r m a d na l he t pr ded t D e enda sw ih a opporuniy t fl a r y. I a p.11 ovi he f nt t n t t o ie epl d. t . De e f ndant fl d t r M oton on Oc obe 20,201 They c e t tt i c s ie hei i t r 7. ont nd ha he r ouns l e s nt5.4 hou sa a$250pe hourrt prparngt moi frs tonsa t srke.( 97, pe 7 r t r ae e i he ton o anci nd o ti DE p 2 3 . Ho v r De e d ns a e o l s e i g $ 3 7 b c us De e d n s c u e ha p. - ) we e, fn a t r ny e k n 9 2.5 e a e fn a t' o ns l s vol t rl r duc t ato un a iy e ed he tnwy' f s c l ul ton by 35% a tra yi herr a ona e bilng s ee a c a i fe ppl ng e s bl li ' J me . udg nt a p.2. De e nt f t r e ai t tt y Sa id a sgnii ntr duc i t f nda s ' he xpl n ha he lpple ur i fca e ton be us atlas s ca e e t ome oft c e l r ea c c td i Def nda s'M oton t Sti i t sc s he as aw es r h ie n e nt i o rke n hi a e wa pr vi l r s a che r vi s e ousy e e r d/e ewed t pr pa e Def nda s M oton f Sanc i a t Sti i o e r e nt ' i or tons nd o rke s ca e no. 9: 6- v- 61 KA M .' f a p. 3, n. 4. A ta hed t t M oton a e D e e nt ' s 1 c 81 2' J. t tc o he i r f nda s co elsbilnge res( 97 1 andt Afi vi ofLiaM .Kohrng,Es g 97- . uns ' li nti DE - 1 he fda t s i q.DE 21 2 LEG A L STAN D A RD A. At orne s Fees t v' A r as bl a t ne sf e a r i l ope l c c a e by muli yi t num be of e ona e tor y' e wa d s t pr ry alult d tpl ng he r hour r s bl e nded on t ltgai tmesar s bl hotry r t .' Am.Ci lLi ris s ea ona y xpe he ii ton i ea ona e zl a e' vi be te Uni v.Bar s 1 F. 423,427 ( 1h Ci.1 ( ig Bl v Stns 465 U. 8 on ne , 68 3d 1 t r 999) quotn um . e on, S. 86, 8 8 ( 9 4 ) Th sio e tr' yt e b a j se f rt er s lso ti e b t eat r e Se 8 1 9 ). i û d sa 'ma h n e du td o h e ut b an d y h to n y. e l Bar s 1 F. a 427 ( tn Lor ge v Stehei 1 F. 776,781( 1h Ci.1 4). The ne , 68 3d t ciig an r . ir m, 0 3d 1 t r 99 ) r as bl houry r t i defne a t S e lng m a ke r t i t r l ntl ga communiy e ona e l a e s i d s he t vaii pr r t a e n he eeva e l t f s m ia s vi es by l or i l r er c awyer of r as bl com par bl s ls e s e ona y a e kil , xpere e,and r put ton. i nc e ai ' ' Ba n s 1 F.da 4 6( u tn No ma v Ho sn Auh o ngo r 8 6F.d 1 9 1 9 r e , 68 3 t 3 q o ig r n . u ig t .fMo t mey 3 2 2 2, 2 9 ( 1h Ci.1 ) 1 t r 999). W ih r ga d t t t ofe de e t t t f e cl i a s d pr t e r o he ype vi nc ha he e a m nt houl oduc i s e n uppor of a t cl i ,i Bar s t El ve h Cic thas s a ed, am n ne , he e nt r ui tt Theû e a i a be st bur ofe t bls ng entteme a doc i e pplc nt ar he den sa ihi f il nt nd umentng i t a oprae hour and houry r t . No man,836 F. a 1 he ppr i t s l a es' r ' 2d t 303.Tha bur t den i l ncudesSs yi t c twih s cii a de a ld evi efom whih t tuppl ng he our t pe fc nd t ie denc r c he c tc n det r i t r a ona e hour y r e.Fur he , ee c our a e m ne he e s bl l at t r f ouns s d ha el houl ve m a nt i d r or t s i a ne ec ds o how t tm e s nto t di f r ntcl i s a t ge a he i pe n he f e e a m , nd he ner l s be tmatro tetmee pe dt rso g t ob s to t t s fce t u j c te f h i x n iu e u h t e e u wih ufiin pm i ul rt s t tt dit i tc tc n as es t tm e c a m ed f e ch a i t c a iy o ha he s rc our a s s he i li or a ctviy lpr pa ed f e pe ii n a s w oul i l a s m a y,gr ng t r e tto l o d nc ude um r oupi he . . . . A wel- e tmeenre byt naur oft a i t orsa oft ca e. 1 (iai i tis he t e he ctviy tge he s ' d. cttons ' omitd) te . 1 F. a 427. 68 3d t 1. R easonabl H ourl R at e y e I s eki r i bur e e f isator y' f es Def ndant r y on t A fi vi ofLi a n e ng e m s m nt or t t ne s e , e s el he fda t s M .Kohr ng,Es ,s i q. uppor i he cl i e houry r t A c di t t afi vi,M s K ol i tng r a m d l a e. cor ng o he fda t . l ng r 3 ac i ng a nc bls a te rt o $ 5 pe h u . g 9 - 1 She has been pr tci l w si e 2011 and il t h ae f 2 0 r o r DE 7 2 . s i i s i e pl entl w . 1 pec alze n m oym a d. Ba ed upon t Cour ' own e r e e i a s s i t r as bl s of a t ne s s he ts xpe i nc n s e s ng he e ona ene s tor y' f e ,a ha ng r vi w e t a fda ts it d i t s c s ,t s Cour fndst tM s K ohrng' e s nd vi e e d he f i vi ubm te n hi a e hi ti ha . i s hou l r t i r as r y a e s e onabl i c pa i on t t pr ii m a ket r t i t r l va l ga e n om r s o he eva lng r a e n he e e nt e l c mmu t Th Co r as n tst t h Plitf h sn to j ce t t eh u l rt o d fn e o ni y. e u t lo o e ha t e an if a o b e td o h o ry ae f ee s c ouns l e. 2. N um be o H our R e onabl Expended r f s as y N e t Cour m us de e m i w he he t ho s bil d w e e r as bl D e e xt he t t t r ne t r he ur le r e ona e. f ndan s t' c ouns ls nt5. hour t a on r ea c ng a dr tng t moton f s nc i and t srke, e pe 74 s ot l es r hi nd afi he i or a tons o ti bu De e nt a e onl s eki a at r y' f e a r f 3. hour afe vol a iy r duc ng t f nda s r y e ng n to ne s e wa d or 73 s tr unt rl e i c ouns ls hour by 35% . e' s The Cour hasc r f l r viwe t tm e e res Def ndan s'c t a e uly e e d he i nti . e t ouns lbil d 17 hour e le . s on r e c ng t c e l a t r l va Loc Rul be or dr fi t moton f s nc i es ar hi he as aw nd he e e nt al e f e a tng he i or a tons a t srke. ( 97- . Defnda s c e t n bild 1.4 ho sdahi t moto 1 nd o ti DE 21 e nt' ouns l he le 8 ur r ng he in. d. Fi ly,Def nda s c na l e nt ' ouns lbil d 0. on r e i Pl i t f s r po e t t m oto a 1 9 e le 3 evi w ng a n if es ns o he i n nd . hour d a tng a r pl 1 W hie t hour bil s e s i hty e s i t Cour ' f nds t t s r fi e y. d. l he s led e m lg l xce s ve, he ts i ha Def nda s c e nt ' ouns ls 35 r duc i of t tm e bil d m a t r que t d at ne s f s e ' % e ton he i le kes he e se tor y' ee a r r a o a l. Th Co r as n tst a tePlitf ha n to j ce t t h u scame wad e s n be e u t lo o e h t h an if s o b e td o he o r li d b de e ec el The e or t t alf eawar i $932. y f ns ouns . r f e, he ot e ds 75. CO NC LU SI N O Bas on t f e ng,i i he e O RD ER ED a f l ed he or goi t s r by s olows: Def nda s M oton f r A tor ys' Fe s t D e e m i t Am ount of Fe t Be e nt ' i o t ne e o t r ne he es o 4 Awa d d g 9 )i GRANTED. r e DE 7 s 2. M r Lei a M s W aton s l r m bure t De enda sf t i at ne sf si t . gh nd . s ha l ei s he f nt or her tor y' ee n he a ountof$93 75. m 2. M r Lei a M s W at on a e or r t m a s h paym e t t Of i of G e r l . gh nd . s r de ed o ke uc nt o he fce ne a Couns lf t Sc e or he hoolBoa d ofPal Bea h Count on orbef eDec m be 15, r m c y or e r 2017. D N A DO D R DiCabrti; dyoN vm e 21aWeta O E N R E E n hm e hs a f oebr 07t sPl s , m Bea h,Pa m Be h Count i t Sout r D i ti tofFl r da. c l ac y, n he he n sr c oi - W I A M M A TTH E LLI AN UN I TED STA TES M A G I STM TE J D GE U 5 .

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?